For Christine Harris-Amos, intaglio printmaking has helped her express herself during life’s rough patches. Recently, Harris-Amos produced several haunting photogravure works of aged dolls in various environments, the shadows of light playing across their faces to eerie effect.

"I usually work in hearts and rainbows," she says with a laugh. "I’m moving through a time in life that’s different."

The works are part of a group show at the Academy Art Center, "Etched in Light," that features the works of 18 artists. The show runs through Nov. 19.

Photogravure is an intaglio (etched image) printmaking technique in which a photographic image is transferred onto an acetate sheet and from there onto gelatin paper. The gelatin and image are transferred to a copper plate, and the gelatin is washed away. Soaking the plate in ferric chloride etches the image onto the plate.

The etched plate then is put on a press, ink is applied, paper is run through the press and the image is printed on the paper.

Based on the works in the show, photogravure prints replicate detailed tonal shades that sensitively convey mood and emotion.

"I’d been packing up a lot of things, and I found these dolls I inherited from a friend," Harris-Amos, 64, says. "They look like they might have been beautiful once but are cracked and look demented and very old. They have real personality, almost scary.

"In the photos they’re haunting yet almost angelic. The image of the doll with a veil looks like she’s in mourning. It captured that feeling so well."

Most of the artists in the show were students of Dodie Warren, who taught photographic printmaking for 20 years. Harris-Amos served as Warren’s assistant for five years, and when Warren finally retired from teaching five years ago, Harris-Amos took over.

When Harris-Amos and the group decided to put together an exhibition, they began by asking local photography collector Jim Pierce to curate the show. Each artist submitted five works, from which Pierce selected pieces to put up on Linekona’s walls.

Represented there are Dora Chang, Jim Egan, Felk, Harris-Amos, Mark Hastert, Alex Kufel, Loreen Matsushima, Susan Miller-Fritz, Marcia Morse, James Mosher, Jack Reisland, James Rumford, David Smith, Fred Smith, Hoppy Smith, Helen Sroat, Nancy Vilhauer and Warren.

Harris-Amos says that when Warren first approached her about taking over the class, she was resistant.

"She said, ‘You’re doing it,’ and I said, ‘No, I can’t,’ and she said, ‘Yes, you can.’

"Thank goodness she insisted. She’s saved my life during this tough time. Sometimes you never know what’s going to happen. There I was, thinking I couldn’t do it. But I am and I’m enjoying myself."